Trolley-head



No. 606,7". Patented July 5, I898.,

C. GRUVER.

TBOLLEY HEAD. (Application filed Nov 13, 1397.)

(No Model.)

mluummmmb U ITED .,.STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES GROVER, OFKANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

TRoLLEYeHEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,711, dated July 5,1898.

i Application filed November 13, 1897. Serial No. 658,373. (No model.)

Missouri, have invented a new and useful Trolley-Head, of .which thefollowing is a specification.-

This invention relates to trolley-heads.

The object of the invention is to provide a trolley-head of simple andimproved construction and arrangement of parts wherein arcing betweenthe contact-wheel audits supporting-axle is prevented, wherein thetrolley-wheel is efficiently lubricated, wherein danger of thetrolley-head engaging or catching the upper side of the trolley-wire isavoided, which is exceedingly simple, economical in construction, andcfiicient in operation.

- the 12ieqts.nf..me..inrenn on willapse pent ne- 5 fully. hereinafter.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and relative arrangement of parts,.all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the 2 5 accompanying drawings, andfinally specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference signs appearing thereon, Figure lis a view in side elevationof a trolley-head 'ernbodyingthe Fig. 2 is a plan principles of myinvention. View of same. Fig. 3 is an end view of same, a part of oneflange of the trolley-wheel being broken away. Fig. 4 is a centrallongitudinal 3 5 .section through the trolley-head. Fig. 5 is adetached'detail view, in end elevation, of the axle or support for thetrolley-wheel. Fig. 6 is a detached detail view and plan of thelubrieating-plunger.

in lubricating the trolley-head.

The same part is designated by the same reference sign wherever itoccurs through-- out the several views.

5 In the drawings, reference sign A designates generallythetrolley-head, which is suitably mounted upon or attached or otherwisesecured to the upper end of a trolley pogle or arm, a portion of whichis designated by ref- Fig. 7 is a longitudinal cen-' 4o tral section ofthecompression-cupemployed D, constituting the fork; These side piecesare provided with threaded sockets in the opposedfaces thereof,the-threaded socket in the threaded socket in the opposite piece.

"These threaded sockets are arranged to receive'the threaded ends of asupportingspindle E for the trolley or contact wheel F. The spindle E ispreferably tubular and. is held against rotation by a screw G, ar-

ranged to be passed through the wall of one of the side pieces of thefork and into a seat or recess H, formed in the inner surface ofwheel-F. The trolley-wheel F, I prefer to make of phosphor-bronze; butit is evident that other suitable material may be employedsuch, forinstance, as copper-phosphor'- bronze being preferred because of itsdurability and strength. The hub of trolley-wheel F is truly andaccurately bored to a diameter adapting it to snugly receivetherethrough the supporting-spin dle E.

In order to avoid arcing between the contact-wheel and itssupporting-spindle, I provide a suitable opening through the support,-ing-spindle, and through such opening 1 arrange a plug J, of suitableconducting materialsuch, for-instance, as copper-t0 proj ect from theinterior of said spindle and into i effic-ient contact with the surfaceof the bore of'the trolley-Wheel, as clearly shown in Fig.

4. In order that this contact may be efiiciently maintainednotwithstanding the natural and nsual wear of rubbing-surfaces, Iprovide means for maintaining the contact between plug J and the surfaceof the bore of wheel F yieldingly. To this end I suitably mount thecontact-plug J upon a spring K, the tension of which is constantlyexerted in a direction to project con tact plug J through the opening inspindle E and into contact with contact-wheel E. Thus I avoid theobjections and evils resulting from arcing between the contact-wheel andits support- 50 erence sign B. In-the particular form shown Iing-spindle, and hence also provide a conthe trolley-head comprises theside pieces 0 struction which will not Wear out rapidly by 'reason ofthe friction of the trolley-wheel rotating upon a surface blisteredorroughened by reason of such arcing. y

In order to efficiently lubricate the wheel, I provide another openingthrough the wall of spindle E and opening communication from theinterior of said spindle to the bear ing-surface of the contact-wheel F.In this opening I arrange another plug L, having suitable passages Mformed therein,as clearly indicated in Fig. 6, for the passage of thelubricant from the interior of the spindle to the bearing-surface of thewheel; This plug is preferably made of iron or othersuitable hardmaterial, although I do not desire to be limited inthis respect. Iron ispreferred, be-

cause if said plunger is made of a softer materi-al or metal than ironthe constant rubbing of the internal surface ofthe bore of wheel Fagainst such plug will cause the end thereof to wear and to fill up thepassages M,-

thereby preventing a proper lubrication. In order to constantly andyieldiugly maintain the plunger or plug L projected into engagement withthe inner wall of the bore of wheel F, said plunger is suitably engagedby spring K, the tension of which spring is exerted to normally projector press said plunger into 'efiicient contact with the wheel F.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a compression-cup,

for supplying lubricant to the interior of spindle E. Thiscompression-cup.comprises an internally-threaded cy-linderA, open at oneend and provided at the opposite end with-a conical spout B. Anexteriorlythreaded plunger or piston 0'', having operating handle orstem D, is arranged to be screwed into the open end of cylinder A. The

extremity of spout B is of asize enabling thesanie to be insertedthrough the opening in the side piece 0 of the fork formed by removingthe locking-plug G. \Vhen it is desired to supply thetrolley-head with alubricant, the compression-cup cylinder A is filled with a lubricant ofthe desired composition, the

follower or piston-plunger-O is screwed into the open end thereof, thelocking-plug G is removed, the end of spout B is then inserted throughthe opening formed by the removal of locking-plug G from the side piece0 of the head, and the handle D of the compressioncup is rotated,thereby forcing the lubricating material out of cup A through the spoutB and into the interior of spindle E until the by reason of thetrolley-head catching on the top surface of the trolley-wire d'uringthecfforts of the trainlnen to pull the trolley head down into underrunningcontact with the wire, thereby. incurring the danger of detaching thetrolley-wire'from its supports. In orderto avoid this objection, theside'pieces O of my invention.

D of the fork are provided on the-under edges thereof with flanges whichare arranged to inclose the wheel on the under side thereof, as shownatN, and inorder to avoid the danger of the trolley-wire catching orengaging between the fork and the sides of the trolleywheel thewvheel ispreferably formed with dish-shaped sides, the wheel-flanges flaring bingagainst the inside edges of the side" pieces 0 D. I

In order to avoid wearing between the revolving contact-wheel F and theside pieces 0 D of the fork and to suitably offset the side pieces ofthe fork from the trolley-wheel,-I interpose washers R, of brass orother suitable material, between the hub of the trolleywheel and thefaces of side pieces 0 and D. These washers should be renewed when it isobserved that the flanges-of the wheel rub against the sides of thefork-armsin order to prevent the wheel-flanges from damaging the fork.

' From the foregoing description it will be readilyseen that I provide aconstruction of trolley-head wherein is avoided the danger of the headcatching in the overhead-trolleywire construction or becoming entangledwith the wire or its hangers, and hence avoiding the dangerof pullingthe-trolley-line down or injuring or destroying the same. It will alsobe seen that arcing 0f the current between the wheel and itssupporting-spindle is overcome, anrhtherefore the contacting surfaces ofthe wheel or spindle are not roughened by blistering or arcing, andhence the wear on the parts is greatly reduced. It will also be seenthat a perfect lubrication is provided. The expense of manufacturing isreduced to .a minimum, as no special bearings'or bushings are required,and the life of the fork, the wheel, and its spindle is greatlyincreased,

the only parts requiring renewal being the washers R, contact-plunger J,and lubricating-plunger L, and these are cheap and inexpensive.

While I have shown and described a specificconstruction and arrangementembodymg the principles of my invention, I desire it to be understoodthat many variations therefrom and changes therein will readily suggestthemselves to persons skilled in the,

of my invention and aform of apparatus embodying thesame and havingexplained the construction, function, and mode of operation of suchapparatus, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a trolley-head, the combination with a fork of a tubular spindlemounted therein, a trolley-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle,said spindle provided with an opening through the'wall thereof, and a.contactplug arranged within said tubular spindle and projecting throughsaid opening and into contact with said wheel, as and for the purposeset forth. i I

2. In a trolley-head, the combination of a fork, a tubular spindlemounted therein,'a contact-wheel mounted to revolve on said spindle,said spindle provided with an opening through the wall thereof, acontact-plug arranged within said tubular spindle to project through'theopening therein and intoof said wheel, whereby a lubricant introduced tosaid tubular spindle may be supplied to said wheel, as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a trolley-head, a fork, a tubular spindle mounted therein, acontact-wheel mount ed to rotate upon said spindle, said spindleprovided with an opening through the wallthereof, a plunger havingpassages and arranged to project through said opening and into contactwith the bearing-surface of said wheel, whereby a lubricant admittedtosaid to rotate upon said spindle, said spindle pro wheel, a springarranged to press said plun vided with an opening through the wallthereof, a plunger provided with channels and arranged to projectthrough said opening and into contact with the bearing-surface of saidger into contact with saidwheel, whereby a lubricant introduced intosaid spindle is applied to said wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a trolley-head, a fork having juxtaposited screw-threaded recessesin the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a spindle having threaded endsarranged to he received in said threaded recesses, a contact-wheelmountedto rot-ate upon said spindle, and a plunger of conductingmaterial arranged to projectthrough said spindle into contact with saidwheel for preventing arcing between said wheel and spindle, as and forthe purpose set forth.

7. In a trolley-head, a fork having juxtaposited screw-threaded socketsorrecesses in the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a tubular spindlehaving exterior screw threads upon the ends thereof arranged to bereceived in said sockets or recesses, a contactwheel mounted to revolveupon said. spindle, said spindle provided with an opening through thewall thereof, whereby a lubricant introduced to said tubular spindle maybe applied to the bearing-surface of said wheel, and aconducting-plunger arranged to project through the wall of said spindleinto contact with said Wheel for preventing arcing between said wheeland spindle, .as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a trolley-head, a fork comprising oppositely-arranged arms, aspindle mounted in said arms, a trolley-wheel mounted to rotate uponsaid spindle, said arms provided with converging flanges on the underside thereof, said flanges extending to a point opposite the axis ofrotation of said wheel, whereby said trolley-wheel is inclosed on theunder side thereof, as and for the purpose set forth.

' 9. In atrolley-head, a fork comprising arms having converging flangeson the under side thereof, a spindle mounted in said arms, acontact-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, saidflangeslextending to a point opposite the axis of rotation of saidwheel, whereby the under side of said wheel is inclosed thereby, saidcontact-wheel provided with outwardly-flarin g flanges, thereby forminga dish in the faces of said wheel, the extremities of said fork-armsbeing curved inwardly into the dish of said faces, as and for thepurpose set forth.

'10. In a trolley-head, a fork having screwthreaded socketsor recessesin the opposed faces of the arms thereof, a spindle having threaded endsarranged to be received in said threaded sockets or recesses, atrolley-wheel mounted to rotate upon said spindle, a contact plug orplunger projecting through said spindle into contact with said wheel,and washers interposed between said wheel and the arms of said fork toofiset said wheel from said arms, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 10th day ofNovember, 1897, in the presence of the subscribigg witnesses.

CHARLES GROVER. Witnesses:

G. M. MACKENZIE, THos. WoRTHINoToN.

IOC

